Asheville Family Therapy

How Family Therapists work:

“Family therapists may focus more on how patterns of interaction maintain the problem rather than trying to identify the cause, as this can be experienced as blaming by some families. It assumes that the family as a whole is larger than the sum of its parts. Family therapy may also be used to draw upon the strengths of a social network to help address a problem that may be completely externally caused rather than created or maintained by the family.”

Andrea’s approach to Family Therapy:

All of my counseling and coaching work, is systemic. This means I look at your issues and concerns in the context of the “bigger picture” of your family of origin (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.), your current family (children, spouse/partner, etc.) and your life environments (work, school, peers, friends, etc.). Actually, the interactions you experience in these relationships often repeat themselves (hint to think about- the common ingredient in all of your relationships is you! (Or, as one bumper sticker says: Wherever I go, there I am!). This is good news, because you can only ever change you! A Dr. Phil quote I love is “We teach people how to treat us.” I agree 2000%! This is true at home, at school, at work, everywhere! People pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues that communicate what you expect out of them and what they expect out of you. Do you ever feel like you have a sign on you that says:

“If you like to fight, I am your man!”

“If you fear commitment, responsibility or sobriety- line up here!”

“If you are a jerk, pursue me!”

These patterns are no accident, you help create them!

The good news is this means you can change them, yay! It’s as if you have a magnet on your forehead, and my job is to help you identify what your magnet is attracting and help you change your unconscious patterns of unhealthy attraction to healthy new ones. It takes practice, but it can be done, and it’s worth the effort because it will effect the rest of your life!

Family Therapy situations I help with include:

Depression and Anxiety.

Family and couple communication problems.

Relationship strengthening/ premarital counseling.

Affair recovery and healing from break-ups.

Divorce / relationship recovery.

Co-parenting.

Boundary setting, learning when and how to say “No.”

Teen issues: peers, anger, rebellion, school problems and sexuality.

Physical, mental and emotional abuse recovery.

It is very important to be comfortable with any therapist you use. If we determine I am not the right one for you, I will be happy to help you find another therapist who is a better fit. Please feel free to contact me to address any questions or schedule an appointment.